OF THE INDO-CHINESE NATIONS. 241 



the Other nations of Europe have adopted the term. 

 La Loubere, who visited Siam in 1687-8, as Envoy 

 Extraordinary from the French monarcli, has given 

 incomparably the most accurate account, that has 

 ever been exhibited, of this nation, formerly reckoned 

 the most poHshed of eastern India. He divides them 

 into two races, the Tai and the Tai Yai. The latter 

 nation, he adds, are reckoned savages, though the 

 most ancient. Their name signifies Yxtei'dLWy the great 

 Tai, and in order to distinguish themselves from this 

 nation, the ruling race, in modern Siam, assume the 

 name of Tai-noe, the little Tai. Dr. Fr. Buchanan, 

 however, on the authority of the information he re- 

 ceived in the Barma dominions, divides the Siamese 

 race into many states; and gives a specimen of the 

 vocables of three dialects. This brief vocabulary, 

 with La Loubere's observations on the Siamese lan- 

 guage, and " The maxims of the Talapoins,'' translated 

 out of Siamese by the catholic missionaries, Avhich he 

 has published in his " Historical Relatioii of the King- 

 dom of Siam,'' constitute all that has been published, 

 respecting the lang'uage or literature of this nation, 

 in any European tongue. The result of my own in- 

 quiries certainly coincides more directly with La 

 Loubere's information, than with that received, by 

 Dr. Fr. Buchanan. All the intelligent Sia??iese, 

 whom I have met, and among these, there were 

 Talapoins, both of the Tai and the Tai-yai race, agree 

 in asserting, that the Siamese nation, properly so cal- 

 led, consists of two tribes, the Thay and the Tlidy- 



fhay, for so the names are properly written. Of these 

 the most ancient are the T'hay-jhay^ formerly famous 



' for their learning, and the power of their empire. 

 It is added, that many monuments of this ancient 

 race exist in the kingdom of Siam; and I was in- 

 formed, in particular, that in the vicinitv of Ligor 



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